Cynthia Cazort Collins brings style, speed, fashion and flair to San Antonio making her a Texas treasure.
Cynthia Cazort Collins in her famous Indian Moroccan room.
The photo above introduced me to Cynthia Cazort Collins years ago when it was featured in Domino magazine. All I knew of her was that she had to be interesting if she had a room like that. Many years later she popped up on Instagram reminding me that she was the girl with the stylish room. Then I learned a bit about her making clothes and selling them out of her cabaña. She took those clothes to Round Top last spring where I met her in person.
All trips to Texas require Mexican food.
Cynthia, like all good native Texans, knows that Mexican food and hospitality are requirements.
Cynthia made a dress for her daughter’s debutante ball and posted it on Instagram. My daughter needed a similar dress. After some fun conversations she agreed to make one for her. This required a trip to San Antonio. Darn. Due to some family health issues on my end we only had time for a day trip. If you find yourself with seven hours to spare in San Antonio, call Cynthia. She is the epitome of Texas hospitality. Cynthia whisked us from the airport to Maria’s for the best chilaquiles. A true Texan knows that good Mexican food is a priority.
Texas has some beautiful Spanish architecture that suits the Mexican-influenced life there.
Tile heaven.
People in Winter Park, Florida tear down houses like this replacing them with modern white boxes.
The details of her house are incredible.
Smart Cynthia turned a powder bath into a bar.
Hand-painted mural and Moroccan pendant make an irresistible bathroom.
The famous room, now stripped of its Indian fabric, is painted orange and features one of her father’s hunting trophies. It is Texas after all.
Claudia and I shamelessly taking in every detail of Cynthia’s master bathroom.
Texans take great pride in their homes and gardens.
Knowing we appreciate old houses, Cynthia drove us through the King William neighborhood on the way to her own also full of historic homes. She lives in an incredible Spanish home in Monte Vista. Her house is the location of the famous room, first photo above, and the cabaña full of fabulous clothes. She graciously showed us every room in her home. Thank heavens. House snooping is my favorite activity. She spared me having to try and subtly sneak a peek around every corner. The house cemented her on my Flair list. Her sense of style already apparent in her fashions was splashed all over her home. It isn’t just a pretty stylish house however. It is so much more.
Her landscaping transports her pool to a more exotic location than Texas.
Her cactus collection added a bit of unruly exotic glamour to the garden.
Cynthia, the busy girl, simplified life by naming all four chickens Alicia.
Within the Collins Compound one can find homegrown eggs and homemade fashion.
She has created a full environment of chic, fun, bohemian joy from her unique rooms and extensive art collection to her treehouse, pool, cacti, and even chickens. Unfortunately the peacocks she once received as a birthday gift had to be moved to a ranch due to an unfortunate neighbor. That is the only thing that might have added to the Collins Compound.
Signs of a true creative: Moroccan light as hat on a mannequin.
Her practical daughters display the popular cord necklaces on another of their grandfather’s trophies.
Love her turquoise bar full of Mexican treasures.
Kitty loves her home.
The cabaña oozed creativity. Great things happen within those walls. Cynthia loves slow fashion feeling it doesn’t have to be overly expensive. She makes light as air gauzy coverups in endless colors as well as silky dresses with dramatic sleeves that look good on everyone. She has some things made in Morocco like the colorful robes with contrasting sequin trim down the front. I want one. Currently she is working on a capsule collection using cupro. Mindful of fashion’s wastefulness, she chose this sustainable material. Clothes have the ability to make you feel as if you are dancing through clouds when they hang just so and are tucked just right. Cynthia’s clothes are like this. They are unique, highlighting rather than dominating the wearer.
A good tour guide knows all the hot spots.
All of the above happened in the first two hours of my day in San Antonio. My fast-moving tour guide had much more on the agenda. She dropped us off at the Pearl District where we peeked into the Hotel Emma and some wonderful stores. Dos Carolinas sells high end custom guayaberas and The Tiny Finch, owned by her friend, had fantastic gifts from around the world.
The popular Hotel Emma in the Pearl warehouse district.
Old-world cement tile.
These caneles from Bakery Lorraine were as good as those from La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles.
One of the many treasures in San Antonio is the five missions lining the river.
Mission San José
Remnants of the original paint at the mission.
The chic Cynthia Cazort Collins back where she got married.
Seven hours of San Antonio was not nearly enough.
We then headed to Mission San José, one of five in San Antonio. This particular mission was the location of Cynthia’s wedding to her husband Taylor. Sounds of mariachis escorted her into the church that day rather than a traditional organ. The happy couple were celebrated with a reception under the trees on the mission grounds which sadly one can no longer do. No time to be sad though because there was more to see.
A colorful frutería decorated with piñatas galore.
Cynthia instructed her top seamstress to whip up a few changes to my daughter’s dress while we were sightseeing. One more try-on was needed, but first a trip to the frutería for limonadas to go. The dress was transformed by Cynthia’s suggestions. It was stunning.
And that was the end of our magical San Antonio day. Our delightful hostess flew us to the airport in her fast black car where we arrived in plenty of time to board our plane. We flew home to our town that seemed a little less dazzling as it lacks mariachi mass on Sundays, fruterías, and cabañas full of creative clothing.
Cynthia’s creative life and clothes can be stalked on Instagram here and purchased here.
Casa V Interiors can be reached here to add some Flair to your life.
